St Helens might be just one point away from being crowned League Leaders' Shield winners, but Castleford head coach Daryl Powell is hoping to gatecrash the party after Luke Dorn scored in their return to winning ways.
Australian Dorn, who switched to Super League from the NRL in 2005, scored one of five tries as the Tigers put last weekend's Challenge Cup final defeat to Leeds to one side against Bradford Bulls.
Andy Lynch, James Clare, Michael Shenton and Daryl Clark followed the 32-year-old full-back in registering tries in the 32-18 victory which also made up for their last outing in the Super League.
They lost 48-10 to Warrington prior to their trip to Wembley but leapfrogged the Wolves, going from sixth to second in the table on Sunday.
They are four points adrift of St Helens with just two games of the regular season left, but that isn't stopping head coach Powell from urging his players to do all they can to overturn the Saints.
"It was always going to be tough to back up after a Challenge Cup final, especially after a loss, and it took some responding to," said Powell.
"It was paramount that we won the game and we did that. It was pretty hot out there and probably the mental exertions as well as the physical ones took some dealing with.
"We've been quite critical and there was no point pussy-footing around. The courage and character of the players was superb. We've been to a final and have got an opportunity in front of us now.
"Wakefield are a dangerous animal and then it's Catalan away, so we've got a pretty tough finish. We've given ourselves a great opportunity."
St Helens moved to within a point of the Shield with a 13-12 defeat of Castleford's Challenge Cup final conquerors Leeds Rhinos - much to the delight of head coach Nathan Brown.
Results went St Helens' way with Wigan suffering a shock defeat at Widnes while Warrington and Huddersfield played out a draw - although Brown insists whatever happens it has been a great season.
"Obviously we would love to finish first," said Brown, a former coach of St George in the NRL.
"But regardless of where we finish, after what we've been through this year, I don't think any of the fans could be disappointed with what the players have given them.
"I am really proud of the guys regardless of where we finish."
A double from former New Zealand Warriors wing Patrick Ah Van proved vital in Widnes' 24-10 defeat of Wigan which left Warriors' head coach Shaun Wane biting his tongue.
"We made 19 errors and conceded 17 penalties and you are not going to beat anybody with those stats," he said. "They handled the conditions better than us and were worthy winners.
"I'm privately fuming because that was unacceptable and not a Wigan performance. We were poor against Hull KR in our last game and this was way below our standards."
Source: AFP
